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Did I do the right thing?

14 years ago

My husband stopped by his dad's new house today, and it turns out he's loaded with hostas! Apparently several varieties - I'm going to have to check in out. (Quite excited since we've just entering the world of hostas!)

Hubby returned with a large cardboard box filled with a giant (probably 2' circle) clump of what looks like a Fire and Ice hosta completely overgrown with daylilies. Also, it had apparently been out of the ground for "a few days". It definitely looked wilty. I split the clump as best I could - one half mostly daylily and one half mostly hosta. I put them in the ground right away and watered heavily.

I'm sure I could have painstakingly split the two types of plants completely, but I was afraid to further damage the plants. My "plan" was to get them in the ground so they can start recovering, and in a year try to split them up properly. (I've never actually divided before, but I figure I can learn between now and then.)Does this sound like a good plan?

Thanks!

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Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
probably more likely to be undulata ...

replant.. water.. it will be fine.. especially if you plant it roots down ...

you could have left them on the driveway for a few more weeks .. lol ...

post a pic if you really want an ID ....

ken
paul_in_mn
14 years ago
Score! Congrats on the free hosta. They'll recover. Keep 'em watered well for the next week or so.

I'd guess more likely you have Undulata (Ken beat me to it), check the link below.

One late fall, my Uncle gave me some mature clumps that he cut into chunks (like a pineapple), 5-15 divisions per chunk, few if any roots on some. but all had thick pieces of crown. Planted and watered them well and they all came up fine in the spring. They want to survive!

Paul

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Lisa, I am sorry to read about the loss of your dog. I just wanted to share my own experience with a similar situation...maybe it will help you feel better about your choice. I took my 13-year old cat to the vet because of sudden weight loss and markedly poor coat. X-rays revealed an intestinal mass and I was given three options. I could put him down right away, put him through more testing that would stress him physically and emotionally, or send him for exploratory surgery. In the end, I chose the surgery. I thought "I know cats that have lived to 18 or 20" and to be honest, I was young, he was my first pet, and I was not ready to let go and have him euthanized. The vet did warn me that it could be difficult for him to recover, but she said she would make the smallest incision possible. I was at work on his surgery day when she called to tell me it was a huge mass involving his stomach and intestine and that due just to the size of the tumor, he would never have good quality of life again. She recommended euthanasia, which I of course realized was the best thing for him. I was unable to leave work so she euthanized him while he was still under for surgery. To this day I am devastated when I think I could have let him go without the trauma of that last overnight at the vet, the surgery, and especially not being able to say goodbye. As others have said, it is so very difficult when we have to make these kinds of decisions, and it's worse when you feel like you don't have time to think and weigh your options. But I believe that you chose well and did the most loving and caring thing left to do for your dear dog. I hope that time brings you peace with your decision.
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heather317
Original Author
14 years ago
Wow - it matches the pic of undulata perfectly! Thanks for the support, I do feel better now. We're getting a good soaking rain now, so that should help too. I'm not sure the mostly lily clump had any crowns, I guess we'll see. I really don't want to have them all mashed together like that, but like I said, I didn't want to further damage them. I'll try to get them all separated next year. From what I've heard, my FIL had a wildly overgrown set of beds. I might try to get some other divisions from him next year, AFTER he's done the work to separate/revive them!
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
if you have multiple clumps.. and some free time.. go dissect one of them for the fun of it...

what the heck

ken
sunnny
14 years ago
My hosta collection is small (something like 60 varieties and 75 total) and an undulata was one of my first purchases and still one of my favorites. It has grown great, even in several hours of morning sun with no burning and the slugs don't bother it. It really is a pretty hosta.
I have others that are more spectacular but I still love my undullata.
I hope you enjoy yours and maybe you have some great day lillies in there, too!
Sunny
heather317
Original Author
14 years ago
LOL... if 60 varieties and 75 total is a SMALL collection, I'm not even at "infant" yet. My mom bought me two last year (which turned out to be stained glass... so pretty). I knew nothing about hostas, so when there was nothing left above ground after the fall, I thought they'd died. Imagine my surprise and delight when they popped back up!

I've since acquired 2 of an unknown variety from a farmer's market (looks like Patriot) and a coworker's mom divided out 4 more (again looking like Patriot) And now the 1 1/2 of the undulata from my father in law. So that's... 3 varieties (maybe 4, since two are unknown), 9 1/2 plants.

I sent my brother in law (who's sort of my surrogate child, living with us) back to my father in law's today to get one more of the undulata (hopefully one plant, not a mix!) and one of a solid green my husband said he saw yesterday. I also ordered 4 of a regal blue from directgardening.com but they haven't arrived yet, and judging from the reviews on davesgarden, I'll be lucky if they're alive when they get here!

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